Archery Premier League 2026: Chiefs end drought in shootout thriller

A superb X from Gatha Khadake in the fourth set levelled the scores. In the ensuing shootout, Alejandra Usquiano (who shot 80 out of 80 in regulation time) and Yuktha Sri Kondapavuluri did not falter, giving Chief their second win of the campaign. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Chola Chiefs ended a five-match losing streak in thrilling fashion, beating Prithviraaj Yodhas in a hit-or-miss shootoff in the Archery Premier League season 2 at People’s Plaza on Thursday.

Chiefs won the first two sets and were on course to seal the contest in three, when their recurve archers Yuktha Sri and Marcus D’Almeida landed the arrows into the 7-ring, giving Yodhas a way back into the contest.

A superb X from Gatha Khadake in the fourth set levelled the scores. In the ensuing shootout, Alejandra Usquiano (who shot 80 out of 80 in regulation time) and Yuktha Sri Kondapavuluri did not falter, giving Chief their second win of the campaign.

Later, Mighty Marathas got off to a nightmare start as it was unable to shoot its final arrow in both the first and second sets, with Alejandra Valencia and Mrinal Chauhan caught by time pressure. While it bounced back to take the third set, Rajputana Royals emerged 6-2 winners, with Tokyo Olympic champion Mete Gazoz shooting a 10 with his last arrow with barely any time left.

In the final match of the night, Chero Archers sailed past Kakatiya Knights in three sets. Knights missed the services of Neeraj Chauhan, with his recurve backup Rohit Kumar taking time to get going. On the other hand, Archers, led by Atanu Das and compound world No 1 Mathias Fullerton, were steady from the start.

Incidentally, APL will have a new playoffs format this time. The sides that finish first and second will have two shots at qualifying for the final, while those finishing third and fourth will face off in Eliminator 1 on Saturday, after the regular schedule of three matches. The winner of that clash will proceed to Eliminator 2.

On Sunday, the two top sides will meet in the Short-cut Decider, with the winner reaching the title clash and the loser facing the winner of Eliminator 2 to decide the second finalist.

The scores:

Chola Chiefs bt Prithviraj Yodhas 4-4 (2-0) (76-72, 78-77, 72-75, 74-77).

Rajputana Royals bt Mighty Marathas 6-2 (77-65, 75-66, 73-76, 77-74).

Chero Archers bt Kakatiya Knights 6-0 (76-73, 77-76, 75-74).